HIES Torchbearer Summer 2023

WILL KEYES ‘05, DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD RECIPIENT ACTS OF SERVICE

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Paul A. Barton

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Mr. Adam T. Fuller, Chairman of the Board

Mr. Pickens M. Lindsay, Vice Chairman

Mr. Rakesh Chauhan, Treasurer

Mrs. Kristin W. Roch, Secretary

Mrs. Allison Bittel

Mr. Ryan Cameron

Mr. Daniel Campbell

Mr. Richard Courts

Dr. Sarah Carr Evans

Mr. James Gates

Mr. Ryan Hardwick

Mrs. Heather Henn

Ms. Hadley B. Laughlin

Mr. David Love

Mr. Peter J. Mace

Mr. Ian A. Marshall

Mr. Mike C. McMillen

Mrs. Lorin Middelthon

Mr. Mark Miles

Mrs. Jennifer Mirgorod

Mrs. Elizabeth Mooney

The Rev. Dr. William S. Murray IV

Mrs. Keisha Noel

Mrs. Kim Peterson

Mrs. Donna T. Toledo

Mr. Todd P. Wandtke

ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD

John Mitchell ‘09, Board Chair

Mary Wade Ballou Blake ‘13

Christine Dial Buckler ‘10

Jackson Davis ‘09

Mitchell Davis ‘12

Missy Evans Gardner ‘02

Laura Phillips Green ‘04

Michael Griffin ‘00

Geoff Malcolm ‘06

Kate Stice Stewart ‘04

Elizabeth Dunham Thompson ‘98

EJ Thurmond ‘13

Martin Williams ‘16

t rchbearer

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Andrew Payne andrew.payne@hies.org

EDITOR

Christina Mimms christina.mimms@hies.org

DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Michele Duncan michele.duncan@hies.org

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

Kelli Moore kelli.moore@hies.org

CONTRIBUTORS

Whitney Meadows design

Dunn Neugebauer writer

Shanon Bell

Eric Langley

MISSION STATEMENT

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School develops in students a love of learning, respect for self and others, faith in God, and a sense of service to the world community.

Jamila Lisbon photography

STATE OF THE SCHOOL

Our Head of School takes a look at the current state of the school and the many accomplishments of the past year.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Recognizing Dr. Michael B. Stewart, the recipient of our 2023 Distinguished Service Award.

DEDICATING GOLDEN BEAR PLAZA

A new bronze bear statue has made its home on the HIES campus in the new Golden Bear Plaza.

INSPIRING SCIENTIFIC MINDS

Lower School science teachers encourage a love of learning.

ACTS OF SERVICE

Will Keyes '05 is the 2023 recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award, recognized for his ongoing career and personal accomplishments.

Primary School students enjoy reading time together.

It is indeed the Dawn of a New Day at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School. This was the theme for the 2022-2023 academic year for a myriad of reasons. We have emerged from COVID a more compassionate and a more resilient community. We completed the largest capital campaign in the School’s history – surpassing the goal of $32.5 million by half a million dollars. We cut the ribbon on our stunning new Dorothy Sullivan Lower School and opened the beautiful Owen Family Quadrangle. A few weeks ago, we unveiled an amazing 10-foot, bronze Golden Bear, the centerpiece of our Golden Bear Plaza. It has quickly become the favorite Instagram site on campus.

The Class of 2023 graduated in the new quad, facing the new Humanities

Building, and in the shadow of the big Golden Bear. It was truly a sight to behold. Needless to say, excitement on campus this year has been palpable. While so much has changed, the commitment to our mission of developing in young people a love of learning, respect for self and others, faith in God, and a sense of service to the world community remains steadfast. While buildings come and go, that special sense of community that defines HI, the way in which we draw the circle wide also remains steadfast. As you read through this issue of the Torchbearer, you will be reminded of the many ways our mission is lived out every day by our students, our faculty and staff, and by our alumni.

A special congratulations to the Class of 2023! Our 135 incredible Golden Bears have been launched into a world that needs their talents, compassion and joy. I invite those of you who have not been to campus in a few years to come back to The 805 and see all the stunning changes to the campus and reconnect with faculty and staff who want to know what you are up to.

Thank you for your support of the students, alumni, faculty, families and friends of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School. It’s never been a better time to be a Golden Bear!

Go Bears!

PAUL BARTON HEAD OF SCHOOL

State of the school

The annual State of the School luncheon, held on April 13, 2023, at Cherokee Town Club, served as a day of celebration in the life of the school. Reflecting on the past year, Head of School Paul Barton provided a report on the current state of school life and operations for the “Dawn of a New Day.”

While the HIES campus has been transformed in feel and function, particularly with the completion of the Dorothy Sullivan Lower School and the Owen Family Quadrangle, the core values have not changed: commitment to the school mission and commitment to Episcopal identity are paramount.

“While it may be a fresh dawn and a new day, the sun that is the source of both remains the same,” Mr. Barton said. “This school remains forever grateful to Holy Innocents’ parish for having the courage to start a school and the devotion to continually nourish our school community for the past 64 years.”

Speaking to the school’s AIM HI strategic plan, Mr. Barton explained the creation of the PEAK Institute. PEAK stands for Passions, Experiential learning, Authentic tasks, and Knowledge building. The program provides students with real-world opportunities to explore passions and emerging interests by engaging with mentors and business and community leaders in Atlanta. Students have met with business executives in various fields to dive into their industries and complete various tasks and projects associated with those industries. “PEAK is an incubator for innovation and collaboration that will ultimately impact all divisions in the school,” Mr. Barton said.

Now in year four of the five-year strategic plan, much has been accomplished in the school, from

adding new courses and curricula, to executing our largest capital campaign to strengthening the overall financial position of the school. “I believe we are at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School during a time that will be remembered as one of the most historic and transformational in the school’s history,” Mr. Barton said. “This is a call to action to embolden us to make of the most of this opportunity and to usher in Holy Innocents’ 2.0.”

Mr. Barton thanked the Board of Trustees for their leadership and dedication, the faculty for fulfilling the school mission each and every day in their classrooms, and the parents for their trust and support. He also recognized the students for their hard work, especially the senior Class of 2023.

The 135 seniors include 38 Alpha-Omega students. They were admitted to 151 colleges, spanning 21 states, Washington, D.C., and abroad. Two students earned status as National Merit Finalists. Eleven students will play collegiate athletics and five students will pursue the fine arts in college.

The Class of 2023 will be the first to enjoy commencement on the new Owen Family Quad, adjacent to the new Golden Bear Plaza which welcomed the arrival of a 10-foot Golden Bear bronze statue in early May. The generous donation by HIES parents Claire and Mark Murray creates an exciting landmark on campus. “I cannot think of a bigger exclamation point on the state of our school in 2023 than that bronze bear standing tall and proud in its stately plaza welcoming all past, present, and future Golden Bears to 805 Mount Vernon Highway,” Mr. Barton said. “Welcome to the Dawn of our New Day!”

Dr. Michael B. Stewart

2023 J. BART MILLER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

At the State of the School luncheon held April 13, 2023, the J. Bart Miller Distinguished Service Award was presented to Dr. Michael B. Stewart.

Dr. Stewart has been involved with Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School and Church for more than 30 years. He and his wife Dr. Melisa Rathburn-Stewart are the proud parents of two Alpha-Omega alumni, Dr. Tyler Rathburn ’05 and Alexis Stewart ’12.

Dr. Stewart served on the HIES Board of Trustees for seven years, five of those as Board Chair, 2016 to 2021. During his tenure as chair, the school launched and completed the largest and most transformational campaign in the school’s history, resulting in more than 100,000 square feet of new academic space and almost 2 acres of additional green space. He played an invaluable role in helping the school and the church come together and revise the bylaws, effectively strengthening both institutions. Under his leadership, the Board passed the school’s five-year strategic plan, providing a clear vision for the school.

A year after Alexis graduated in 2012, Dr. Stewart was invited to join the board and served on the Facilities Committee as the STEM building was under construction. He then moved into the role of Vice Chair and Chair. As Chair, he and Paul Barton worked closely to navigate the school’s response to COVID-19, while at the same time overseeing the

Our Time Capital Campaign to build the new Dorothy Sullivan Lower School, the Upper School Humanities Building and other campus improvements.

Dr. Stewart moved to Atlanta from Florida to attend the Emory University School of Dentistry. He completed successive residencies in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics. He then joined the Emory University faculty as assistant professor and opened a practice in Sandy Springs. He is celebrating 46 years in practice, 33 of them with Dr. Rathburn-Stewart as his wife and professional partner at Atlanta Orthodontic Specialists. They have treated many HIES students as patients there over the years.

They look forward to adding the title of HIES Grandparents in the future.

Bruce Ford, former Board Chair, introduced Dr. Stewart at the luncheon. “Mike was the right person at the right time,” he said. “I can’t imagine a better leader for the school during the unprecedented time of 2020.”

“Serving Holy Innocents’ gave me a purpose in my life that I would not have had otherwise,” Dr. Stewart said. “I feel grateful for this honor.”

The J. Bart Miller Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual who has provided outstanding service and loyalty to Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School through leadership, recruitment, advocacy, fundraising and faithful service to the School.

Golden bear Plaza

On May 9, 2023, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School unveiled the new bronze bear statue in Golden Bear Plaza, located in the roundabout near the Dorothy Sullivan Lower School. The bear was given by HIES parents Claire and Mark Murray and was the final project in our campus transformation.

The bear is 10 feet tall and weighs 1,500 pounds. It has its own green space and stone surround, creating the perfect welcome to all past, present and future Golden Bears to 805 Mount Vernon Highway. Golden Bear Plaza is an ideal photo spot as well.

As the bear made its departure from a foundry in Portland, Ore., HIES enlisted the help of eighth-grade computer science class students, who created a “Bear Tracker” web site to follow the bear’s journey. The bear, accompanied by HIGBY, stopped in several locations along the way, such as Disneyland, the Grand Canyon and New Orleans before arriving at The 805.

The stone next to the bear reads, “Stand Tall, Stand Proud. You are Forever a Golden Bear.”

saying Goodbye to a 'winning ten'

DAN FORRESTAL UPPER SCHOOL

Dan Forrestal taught at HIES for 10 years, where he served as Upper School math teacher – mostly geometry – while also starting the Computer Science program. This led to AP Computer Science and a post-AP Computer Science class which he also taught. In his final year, he added to that a Personal Finance semester course which he developed.

“I have so many fond memories of watching students grow and mature, especially when I saw them fall in love with the world of technology, and accept the challenge of working really, really hard to become a good problem solver,” he said. “I also have many memories of supporting HIES football, girls’ lacrosse and girls’ basketball. Other highlights include winning an award from the College Board for expanding young women’s access to AP Computer Science. And I still possess the flaming microphone trophy for the First Annual Faculty Lip Sync Competition. That was 2018, I think.

“I am a grateful and lucky man to be a part of this community, and I look forward to finding new ways to contribute to Holy Innocents’ in the future.”

CLARE HOBART PRIMARY SCHOOL

“I have taught kindergarten for 30 years. It has been a blessing to be at HIES for the last six years. All three of our children went through the Lower School so I feel as if I have come full circle. I look forward to the next chapter, spending quality time with our five grandchildren.

“Being in the Primary School you cannot have a favorite memory … Something memorable happens about every hour! It has been a pleasure to be a part of this wonderful community!”

MEG FREDERICK PRIMARY SCHOOL

“I have taught young children for 43 years, 36 of those years have been at Holy Innocents’. My daughters, Lauren and Julia, both started here in the Primary School. I have said countless times how thankful I am to all the teachers who helped me raise my girls. Each day has been a gift to me to be part of Holy Innocents’. Each child and family have added to the fabric of my life. I will always be grateful for my time at Holy Innocents’. I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life with my husband and family. Thank you, Holy Innocents’, for all the happy memories.”

KAREN HUTTO PRIMARY SCHOOL

“I have been at HIES 38 years. I started as a teacher’s assistant in kindergarten and am now the Art Coordinator in the Primary School.

“I have seen the school grow from a small Lower School to the large campus it is now and I’ve seen quite a few heads of school. I enjoyed working on the Kindergarten Nativity program, which started as a chapel program and I brought it to the stage. I am also an alumni. I have many fond memories of the years I have spent here and good friends I have found.”

THANK YOU, HOLY INNOCENTS’, FOR ALL THE HAPPY MEMORIES.

-Meg Frederick

JAMES JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL

Mr. Jackson was a Middle School icon, as he taught science, was a faculty force for Science Olympiad squads, and loved his time here. Below are his thoughts upon leaving after 16 solid years.

“I count myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with all of you. Nowhere else would one find a finer staff. Over the years I have been amazed not only by the knowledge of your subject matter, but your professionalism and the creative ways you used to present this knowledge.

“You have also been a place of refuge and support. In the past, I had reached the point where I was ready to leave teaching. This school helped me regain my love of education. Over the years, I have built relationships with many of you. Whenever I was going through hard times, I could always count on you for support and understanding.

“I have been able to stand on the shoulders of giants, and the view is marvelous.”

KATHLEEN KEELER PRIMARY SCHOOL

“I want to thank Janella Brand for inviting me to work at HIES so many years ago. This has been a wonderful and blessed experience for almost 17 years. Having the opportunity to work with a group of very talented teachers as a team has been a great experience. My career in teaching started with teaching kindergarten in a public school in Richmond, Va., to working 14 years at Wesleyan and also teaching at our church school. One day a friend asked me what was my favorite place on campus, and I said the cafeteria because that’s the place where I get to see a lot of my former students. It’s such a pleasure to hear about their activities at school with music, sports and fine arts. What a blessing it is to watch them grow. Thank you to HIES for introducing me to such wonderful children, parents and teachers, and a special thanks to Lisa McFarland and her staff as they’ve been very helpful.”

SUSIE ROSS LOWER SCHOOL

This is my 37th year at Holy Innocents’. I’ve held a variety of positions in those 37 years but technology was always at the forefront. When I started, the computer lab was in a trailer with 25 Apple IIe’s. The changes have been amazing - culminating in the beautiful, state of the art classroom where the Innovations Lab is housed in the new Lower School.

Here’s a peek at my 37 years at Holy Innocents’ by the numbers:

1500+ - days of carpool duty

8 - different heads of school (from Alice Malcolm to Paul Barton)

8 - principals of the Lower School (from Alice Malcolm to Nicole St. Amand)

25 - Reading Incentives starting with dyeing Rick Betts’ hair green

7 - different job responsibilities or positions (from teaching technology in a trailer with 25 Apple IIes to my dream space a new state of the art classroom for the Innovations Lab).

9 - new buildings on campus - culminating with the new Dorothy Sullivan Lower School

12 - different Apple computer models used in the Lower School (from Apple IIe to MacBook Air)

700+ - unused sick days

Endless number of laughs, hugs, tears and cheers with colleagues. A career’s worth of administrative support and encouragement that gave me the confidence and freedom to pursue my passion of innovating, teaching and learning.

But most of all the “way way too many to count” number of opportunities to learn with and from the amazing and incredible students at Holy Innocents’.

GAIL MCNICHOLAS MIDDLE SCHOOL

We say goodbye to Ms. McNicholas after 23 years of great service, where she taught in many capacities in the Middle School, including sixth- and seventh-grade math, seventh-grade advanced math, eighth-grade pre-algebra and Middle School Strategies.

When thinking of how to sum up her years here, she offered this recollection:

“I was here when President Bill Clinton came on campus – and they wouldn’t let the Middle Schoolers out and kept them in the building. One of the boys said something to the effect of, ‘There’s a girl Secret Service agent!’ and another answered, ‘And she could take you down in half a second!’

“I was here when Desmond Tutu spoke on campus and I was fortunate enough to work here for five years with my daughter –always wanted to be in a Bearly Related picture!

“When looking back, the word that always comes to mind about this place is ‘community’ and, after trying to think of another word, it simply DOES come back to the word community. I’ve always known that if I needed help, it was there. If someone needed me, I was there. Faculty helped families; families helped faculty. You were never alone or isolated while here.

“It’s also been great that, even though the students leave us after Middle School, it’s a pleasure seeing them at graduation as adults, as you see that they’ve accomplished all you know they could accomplish. There are valedictorians, they sing, they speak. And even though they sometimes forget you when you walk out the door, that’s okay. You’ve done your part.

“And finally, it was such a wonderful gift of having three students, to whom I taught seventh-grade math, come back as colleagues. Nothing describes how special it has been to see them teach another generation of students the things I endeavored to teach them 15 to 20 years ago.”

SHERRY SAWICKI LOWER SCHOOL

“One of my many favorite sayings is: ‘Man Plans, God laughs.’ I have been gifted with being part of this community in one capacity or another for the past 27 years and my plan was to continue my cherished current role as Global Faith and Service Teacher for several more years.

“While I look forward to this next chapter of my life and embrace the challenges that lie ahead, I find it very difficult to step away from the children. There are no words to accurately express what a blessing they have been in my life and unknowingly given me more comfort and strength than I can express — when I needed it most! Time is the most precious gift one can give and I am so very grateful to all the parents for sharing your precious children with me.

“I am looking forward to retiring early and spending time with my husband. I intend to come back for special occasions and plan to substitute next year. While I won’t be teaching Global Faith and Service, I will never be far away.”

CHRISTINE STAFFORD UPPER SCHOOL

Christine Stafford says goodbye after 27 years – she came over in 1996, beginning as a long-term substitute teacher. Though spending most of her years as the Upper School Spanish teacher, she had a seven-year stint in the Middle School in between.

annual Golden Bear Gala!

On March 25, 2023, a record number of 750 HIES parents, alumni, faculty and friends enjoyed a fabulous evening of dinner, dancing and the auction at the Georgia Aquarium in support of our school. Thank you to PA Gala Committee Chairs Stephanie Briles and Leyla Lewis and the whole team of volunteers and donors who made this night an outstanding success!

The Gala was our largest audience ever, and we had the most sponsorship dollars raised! We are so very grateful for our amazing HIES community and their support of this year’s Golden Bear Gala. Not only were the Bears ready to party, but we raised over $375,000 (net) this year to go towards all the extras the PA can bring to the school. Thank you to all who sponsored, donated, bought tickets, and bid at this year’s event. The volunteers that make this happen really outdid themselves: Stephanie Briles and Leyla Lewis (Co-Chairs) and Committee

Members: Brandy Wright, Sarah Rhino, Donna Toledo, Kris Hroncich, Stephanie Langford, Kerry Owen, PA Treasurer Scott Reynolds and HIES’ very own Tamika Weaver.

Crimson & Gold Golf Tournament

The 24th annual Crimson & Gold Golf Tournament was held on April 18, 2023, at Capital City Club Crabapple with 130 golfers and volunteers. The event raised $25,000!

For the third year in a row, the team of Jim Voyles, Ed Voyles, Nick Carvalho and Daniel Topping (all Class of 2013 alumni) won low gross. Jonathan Kantor, Jonathan Ellis, Robert Fell and Jim Mannix were low net.

Thank you to everyone who participated!

THE ONE-OF-A-KIND BARBARA KLEIN

In this “Torchbearer Teacher Feature,” we are visiting with longtime Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School educator Barbara Klein, who for 44 years has been a mainstay at The 805 and a connecting thread in the fabric of life in the Lower School. For more than four decades as a friend, colleague, director, tutor and educator, Barbara Klein’s name has been synonymous with our school’s special brand of guidance, care and community. We are proud today to introduce (or reintroduce) you to the extraordinary, tireless and one-of-a-kind Mrs. Klein.

TB: What do you remember most about your first year at HIES?

BK: From my first day at HIES, I can remember how welcoming everyone was, and I knew that I had found more than just my professional home. I was so impressed with HIES, I enrolled my son in kindergarten.

TB: What is the best part of your job at HIES?

BK: The best part of my job today is making a difference in the lives of my students. After 44 years, I am now working with many children of my original students. Also, several HIES teachers were my students. Over the decades, I have enjoyed sharing life cycle events with my students, colleagues, and HIES families.

TB: What are some of the dramatic changes you have seen take place?

BK: I have watched HIES be transformed from a single building to a magnificent campus. The highlight of the transformation was the dedication of the Dorothy Sullivan Lower School. Walking across the campus fills me with great pride. What has stayed the same is the sense of community and family that has always been the main strength of HIES. The commitment of the faculty and staff to the development and learning of the students has always been a constant.

TB: Barbara, I know you are not retiring. I hope you never do ... But, what motivates you to return to HIES every day and every year?

BK: What has kept me going for 44 years is being able to play a role in my students’ academic, emotional and social development as they grow into young adults. In addition, the deep friendships

and relationships I have established with my colleagues and families have had a rewarding and positive impact on my life.

TB: How has HIES made you feel welcomed and accepted?

BK: From day one until now, I have experienced total acceptance and respect as a Jewish woman in this Episcopal School environment. I have enjoyed being a source of information concerning Jewish holidays and traditions. I have always felt supported and loved as part of an extended family. My life has been enriched and blessed by being part of HIES.

TB: What is one of the greatest lessons a student has ever taught you?

BK: Many years ago, one of my first wise students taught me that not everyone sees everything clearly or learns the same way. He encouraged me to always think creatively outside of the box and teach with many different techniques and strategies. In addition, establishing a personal relationship with each student is essential to learning. I love my students!

TB: What words of wisdom can you offer today’s parents for supporting their children along their academic and social paths (at any age)?

BK: My advice to today’s parents is to provide a positive, encouraging environment, be academically and emotionally supportive when needed and have good communication with teachers. It is also important to promote a team approach between teachers and parents.

TB: Do you have any advice for teachers who are just starting out in their careers?

BK: My best advice to new teachers is to realize that you are part of a team and your colleagues are there to support and assist you in your teaching. Most importantly, look to your students for their individual needs and be a good listener.

TB: What is it that students need the most in order to learn and grow?

BK: In order for students to learn, grow and prosper, a school needs to recognize and celebrate each student as a unique individual. Additionally, by providing multiple and diverse opportunities in all aspects of school life for children to continuously learn and experience contributes to a positive selfesteem and promotes a healthy and fulfilling life. HIES makes a difference in the lives of our children!

NOTE: In 2022, an anonymous family established The Barbara Klein Endowment Fund to assist need-based Lower School students with financial support. If you are interested in supporting this fund, please contact Michele Duncan, director of institutional advancement, at michele.duncan@hies.org.

Grant Programs Support Professional Development

Several faculty members of Holy Innocents' Episcopal School will explore professional development opportunities this summer thanks to local grant programs. Joe Conway, Upper School film and broadcast teacher; Jason Rutledge, Upper School assistant head; and Dunn Neugebauer, athletic communications director, have received awards from the Greenbaum Family Grant program. Jordan Graves, Upper School art teacher; Kaycie Merrihew, Middle School science teacher; and Nadja Aquino, Upper School math teacher, received support from the Goizueta Foundation Grant.

Joe Conway plans to visit the Netherlands to experience the EYE Film Institute/ Filmmuseum. The EYE Filmmuseum houses an internationally renowned film collection that covers the entire history of world cinema. He will create a short video documenting his visit to share with his Upper School film students. He plans to use the experience as inspiration for an ongoing project of revamping the HIES Upper School film syllabi.

Jason Rutledge is developing a sports psychology, fitness and golf instruction program for Upper School juniors. He will visit the world class state-of-the-art golf instruction center in Sea Island, Ga. He will study how top golf professionals use sports psychology for peak performance for their PGA clients and as part of fitness programs for performance and injury prevention. He will

create instruction programs specifically designed for individual and team practices of juniors.

Dunn Neugebauer will attend a Writer’s Residency near Nashville, Tenn, where he will be surrounded by writers of all types. He plans to continue to hone his writing skills.

Endowed by the Greenbaum Family, the Greenbaum Grants are designed to promote teaching excellence by providing teachers with resources to undertake special enrichment activities beyond what might otherwise be covered by the school’s professional development budget. All faculty and staff are eligible to apply for the grants. Grant applications are reviewed and awards are approved by a committee consisting of the director of advancement, the associate head of school and the recipients of the award from the previous school year.

ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING RECIPIENTS

To enhance the Upper School art curriculum, Jordan Graves will explore the threads between textile art and computer science as well as the opportunities to teach through craft in the classroom. This grant will fund materials and equipment to produce a body of work for exhibition and the development of hands-on classroom activities for Computer Science Principles, Coding for Art and Advanced Coding for Art classes.

Kaycie Merrihew will participate in an internship offered through an organization called Intern Africa located in South Africa. As a conservation volunteer, she will gain the opportunity to participate in hands-on work and assist with current African ecology and conservation research. This internship will help her fine-tune her science-related skills as they

pertain to labs and data collection. Additionally, it will provide the substance for a more interesting and engaging ecology unit for her Middle School students.

Nadja Aquino will attend the Bridges Conference 2023 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Bridges is an international organization that promotes building connections between mathematics and music, art, architecture and culture. Her goal is to engage with and learn from leaders in various fields of mathematical study. She hopes to incorporate elements of what she learns into Upper School math courses. In addition, she expects to test some of the ideas with students who attend the Math Circle Club and those who are members of the HIES chapter of Mu Alpha Theta.

INSPIRING SCIENTIFIC MINDS

by Christina Mimms, EDITOR

Open the door of a science lab in the Dorothy Sullivan Lower School and a whirlwind of activity awaits. Students huddle at tables with full focus on their current task, while teachers dart around the room to check students’ progress and answer questions — lots and lots of questions.

“I personally enjoy the ‘oh, that’s why!’ moment with the students,” Matt Sottnick, Lower School science teacher, said. “When you start showing students the ‘why’ and they get more interested, I start going further in depth and they start having more fun.”

“I think our responsibility down here is not for them to know all the details and scientific theories but for them to like science,” Becky Collins, Lower School science teacher said. “We want to make it fun and for them to feel confident so we can have students who aren’t afraid of science.”

Building confidence in new arena and a new curriculum can be challenging for students. They frequently question if they are doing the work correctly.

“We often tell them it doesn’t matter if the answer is right or wrong,” Mr. Sottnick explained. “What was their thought process? How did they get to that conclusion, were they able to work with a peer even if they were not a friend? These are skills they need in science.”

Sometimes failure in science is necessary to learn but can cause frustration. For example, in a unit on plants, Ms. Collins recalled that some of the seeds didn’t grow. Everyone followed the same instructions for planting but as time went on, students veered in their caretaking.

“Students found that a plant got too much water or one was planted too deep or one wasn’t getting enough water or sun,” Ms. Collins said. “We give them the tools so they can find their own reasons why.”

“They are little but with big emotions,” Sarah Winter, Lower School science co-teacher, said. “We’re doing more than teaching them science. We’re also teaching them how to work together, share and how to manage.”

Adult scientists experience frustrations and failures in science labs as well. Stepping away often allows the opportunity to reset and refocus. The “garage doors” in the LS labs provide not only easy access to the raised container gardens the classes oversee but also a chance for respite from the task at hand.

“I have the ability as a co-teacher to step outside with a student if needed,” Ms. Winter said. “We’ll breathe, we’ll walk for a minute and regroup.”

The teachers often point to the inspirational drawings (hand sketched by Ms. Winter) and phrases that line their labs: Do your best. Think. Have fun. I like, I wish, I wonder.

The students prove time and again that the mantra the teachers have been speaking has sunk in. In the spring semester, third-grade students embraced a unit on rocks and minerals. Students selected a rock based solely on appearance (no names given) and studied it in scientific terms, some of which are new words like “lustre” or “metamorphic.” They completed a series of tests on their rocks and created a poster. When they learned the name of their rock, they compared the scientific description with the description they created.

“They really had to take ownership of their rock,” Ms. Collins said. “They got really excited when we revealed the correct answer and they got it right.”

Using everyday surroundings, such as rocks, flowers and food, are effective tools in teaching young students about science. They encounter those items every day – now they start thinking about them in different terms. Fourth-grade students recently dissected anthem azaleas (common in Georgia) to study their components. Ms. Collins posed a series of questions and tasks to the students to get them thinking about flora like scientists. Words like “deciduous” are now part of their vocabulary.

In fifth grade, students delved into food chemistry to test for starches in different foods and drinks. “See what saliva does to food in your mouth,” Mr. Sottnick directed. “Is it bitter, sweet, sour? What changes as your body starts breaking it down? It’s not about opinion, or if it’s good or bad. Describe it.”

In Lower School science, grades might come in the form of a poster project or a game. “Rather than sitting down with a 40-question, end-of-year assessment, we split into teams and

play trivia,” Mr. Sottnick said. “It motivates them and they have fun with it.”

“But being a scientist is not just having fun – it’s showing people what you know,” Ms. Collins said.

The new labs define the word gamechanger. The previous Lower School building had nothing comparable and teachers coped in makeshift spaces in the Riley Building while the new facility was constructed. Now teachers enjoy all the space, necessities and tools they need to teach the ideal science curriculum for first through fifth grades.

“The new facilities just add to their abilities to be more innovative and creative,” Sarah Carr Evans, Ph.D., parent of Palmer, third grade, and Harrison, sixth grade, and board of trustee member, said. “The fact that they are next to the playground almost makes the science lab an extension of the play space and just adds to their curiosity. Science is so important for kids of all ages and that investment was completely worthwhile.”

The new Lower School represents many dreams come true, with more dreams on the horizon for the science curriculum.

Mr. Sottnick wants to introduce hand tools to the older students and they all have discussed a collaborative design thinking project. They met with sixth-grade teachers to discuss the transition for fifth grade and already introduced the scientific method to fifthgraders in the spring semester to prepare them for sixth-grade science. They hope to create cross-divisional learning opportunities with Upper School science students in the future as well.

Whether students leave Lower School science with a dream to become scientists is not the goal; the teachers seek to inspire them in different ways.

“I want them to leave with an interest, something they would like to pursue, read further into or study some more,” Mr. Sottnick said. “If they are hooked on an area of interest, whether it’s coding or music or anything, the human brain is going to want to explore that. When they know how to research, they don’t have to rely on something or someone else to give them the answer. And then the sky’s the limit.”

class of 2023

On Sunday, May 14, 2023, the Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School community gathered on the Owen Family Quadrangle to celebrate the Commencement of the Class of 2023. This joyous occasion included a speech from Valedictorian Hunter Newsome ’23. Hunter will attend Duke University, where he plans to study engineering.

“Navigating high school was not always easy. The challenges we faced were some of the most important moments,” he said. “Daring to explore the unknown made high school special, and we all emerged with new experiences. We learned what it takes to succeed.”

After departing the quad at the end of the ceremony, seniors flocked to the Stephens Family Courtyard to revive the tradition of ringing the alumni bell, which may be rung only by graduates on the day they become official HIES Alumni. The ringing of the old Georgia Railway bell echoed throughout campus.

Our 135 seniors were admitted to 151 colleges and will attend 51 different colleges and universities. They will attend research institutions, liberal arts colleges, single-gender institutions, Ivy League institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and more across 21 different states.

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School graduated its first class of Upper School seniors in 1995. Prior to the addition of the Upper School, students graduated from the eighth grade. It is an honor to welcome the children of our alumni into the HIES community and to see them complete a HIES education. The alumni were invited to present diplomas to their children — HIES legacies — on stage at Commencement.

Super 11

HIES STUDENT-ATHLETES CELEBRATE CONTINUING THEIR ATHLETIC AND ACADEMIC CAREERS AT COLLEGE SIGNING DAY

by Dunn Neugebauer, WRITER

On April 14, 2023, Holy Innocents' honored their own version of “Super 11,” as student/athletes have inked with respective colleges and universities in continuing their athletic careers come this fall. A special ceremony was held in the gym.

Sydney Bly – UNC Greensboro (Tennis) – A four-year veteran on the team, Sydney remains a major reason why the girls made it to the postseason.

Drew Bomar – Washington University – (Football) – Drew can play anywhere on a football field, and he proved that while here. Offense, defense, special teams, he did it all.

Skyler Hall – Brown University (Track) – When looking at track results during his career, Skyler’s name is usually at the top in the 100 and 200-meter runs, and well as the relays.

Joey Holliday – University of Pennsylvania (Football) –Joey is an athlete, and his presence on our fields over the years helped make HI the program it is today.

Olivia Hutcherson – Princeton University (Basketball) – A great kid, athlete and competitor, Olivia leaves with her numbers among the top in most stats in hoops.

Kathleen Nichols – Virginia Commonwealth (Lacrosse) –Kathleen not only heads up our goal-scoring list over the years but helps out all over the field for the Lady Laxers.

Dylan Radaszewski – Cypress College (Baseball) – Rad has the desire, the power and the ability and has contributed thus far to one of the best baseball seasons in school history.

Joe Sapone – University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (XC and Track) – Joe continues to erase his old records in cross country and track and re-insert his name again.

Sydney Sprayberry – North Central (Triathlon) – She remained in the state pool in swimming but is a versatile athlete who will help out at the next level.

Maria Utz – Wesleyan University (Soccer) – She has the knack around the goal and continuously put it in the back of the net during her years here.

Haven Ward – University of Denver (Golf) – It's been an unusual occurrence when Haven hasn’t been the Low Medalist this year and throughout most of her HIES career.

A L U M N I

ALUMnI Business DIrectory

HIES Alumni, do you own a small business? If so, the HIES Alumni Office wants to help spread the word! Please scan the QR Code and complete the form to be added to our online Alumni Business Directory. If you have any questions, contact kelli.moore@hies.org.

Congratulations to our Golden Bracket March Mania Winners

Class of 2003

MARCH MANIA 2023

March Mania 2023 is one for the memory books! With some new additions and changes this year, it has now become our most successful year to date with our Golden Bears Giving Back. Thank you to everyone who participated this year in support of the Golden Bear Annual Fund. New this year, we featured a “Golden Bracket” and the “Bear Bracket”. All classes began on the Golden Bracket for the kickoff, and then if you did not win against your opponent – you rolled over to the Bear Bracket. This was a fun challenge for this year in addition to many new incentives and donations from Miller Collective and Maggiano’s. As of March 31, the alumni overall giving percentage increased from 12% (2022) to 18%. In an incredible finish, the Class of 2003 ended the competition with 63% giving. The runner up and winner of the Bear Bracket was the Class of 2008 at 29%. Thank you again to all of our alumni who supported the Golden Bear Annual Fund this school year!

BECOMING AIRBORNE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY SOLDIER AND ALLOWS ME TO SUPPORT THE MOST ELITE UNITS IN THE ARMY.

— Will Keyes ’05

ACTS OF SERVICE

WILL

by Christina Mimms, EDITOR

Anyone who met Will Keyes ’05 as a graduating senior at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School would be impressed. He was a HOPE scholarship recipient, bound for the University of Georgia following an early action acceptance. He had completed another outstanding spring season with the HIES varsity baseball team. In his nine years at HIES, he formed deep friendships and looked forward to attending UGA with several close buddies.

In college, Mr. Keyes declared math as his major and quickly learned that required numerous multi-variable calculus and advanced linear algebra courses. “I started thinking about what to do with that degree and realized I needed to work on the business side,” he said. He added economics as a second major.

While in the throes of theoretical economics, earning Dean’s List grades, he learned about the university's ABMA program, which would allow him to use some of his undergraduate course credits toward a master’s degree. He completed a B.B.A. in economics, a B.S. in statistics and an M.A. in economics all in 2010, just five years after enrolling at UGA fresh out of HIES.

For many college students, that many degrees — and that much time in a classroom — would be enough. Mr. Keyes pursued more.

During a summer of his undergraduate years, he completed an internship at the law firm of Wimberly & Lawson in Atlanta. “I needed to get some realworld experience and try to find my passion,” he said.

Mr. Keyes’ time with the firm sparked his interest in law. He applied to the University of Georgia School of Law and was thrilled to receive a scholarship from the University of Georgia Law School Association Council. In 2013, with a J.D. degree, he became one of the fewer than one percent of all UGA graduates to hold four degrees.

He promptly joined the Atlanta law firm of Campbell and Brannon as an associate, representing national banks, purchasers and businesses in commercial and residential real estate transactions. Still close with HIES and UGA friends, he enjoyed the Atlanta lifestyle that would be more than enough for many.

After a few years, Mr. Keyes came to a realization. “It just didn’t light me up,” he said.

As a lifelong scholar of excellence known for his hard work and many accomplishments, Mr. Keyes had arrived at a place where he needed passion behind his purpose. Although he didn’t come from a military family or set out for a military career, he began to look for ways he could contribute. He applied to the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps and was accepted in December 2014.

Mr. Keyes was sent to Fort Benning, Ga., for the Basic Officer Leader Course. Upon completion, he attended the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s School in Virginia. “I was fully hooked,” he said.

Following his graduation, he volunteered for a nine-month active-duty deployment with

KEYES ’05 IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 HIES DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD, RECOGNIZED FOR HIS ONGOING CAREER AND PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Army Central in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. He served as primary legal advisor to a battalion of 800 soldiers operating throughout Kuwait and Iraq.

“It was kind of a pressure-cooker for me,” Mr. Keyes said. “It was all new subject matter, stressful and challenging. I’m super analytical and had to make quick decisions. But it was incredibly rewarding.” While deployed, he was selected for promotion from first lieutenant to captain.

The radical change in his lifestyle and day-to-day responsibilities proved to be heavy some days. “All the things you normally have to support you — family, friends — were not there,” he said. “But I had my Bible and I really leaned on my faith. Growing up in the church and the foundation I had from Holy Innocents’ really helped me.”

He thought about his friends, teammates and mentors from high school, including Bennett Gottlieb ’04, Ben Cornwell ’07, Bentley Heyman ’08, Tyler Heyman ’10, Coach Wes Clark and Coach Dylan Deal ’97.

“Whether we were on the ball field or in the classroom, Coach Deal always had real conversations with us and made real

connections with me and other students,” he said. “Coach Clark was one of my favorites. I loved math and statistics.”

Looking to form relationships in Kuwait, he got involved with a Bible study group at the base in Kuwait, led by an officer, Major Brian Kunihiro, who became a great mentor. “He would always point at the Bible and apply scripture to life,” Mr. Keyes said. “My maturity as a Christian really developed during my time in Kuwait.”

He earned commendations from his superiors during his deployment and he gained valuable experience unlike any other throughout his life and career. Having entered the Army as a reservist, he faced a decision as to what to do following his deployment.

“I thought about getting a job with a big Atlanta law firm but I was still intrigued by the idea of service,” Mr. Keyes said.

He applied for a position with the prosecution team for the Office of Military Commissions under the Department of Defense and went to work at the Pentagon from October 2017 to October 2018, where his experience served him well. He prosecuted key members of Al-Qaeda, served as the supervising attorney on a special projects unit and was awarded as a top

Will Keyes ’05 with wife Margaret, Robert, 3, and Charles, 1. Below, at Airborne graduation March 31, 2023.

performer for analyzing a total of 4,728 documents related to Al-Qaeda. He traveled to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in support of the prosecution.

In between prosecuting, he enjoyed time for a special celebration in May 2018 and married Margaret Sullivan, whom he met at UGA. They are the proud parents of Robert, age 3, and Charles, age 1.

While they liked life in Washington, D.C., a position in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Georgia (Macon) became available. The idea of moving closer to family — Margaret is from Albany — was irresistible.

Mr. Keyes took the position of Assistant U.S. Attorney. In that role, he prosecutes federal crimes and leads investigations with the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals, Homeland Security, USDA, Secret Service and local law enforcement. He holds a top secret security clearance in both the Department of Defense and Department of Justice. His prosecutions and investigations include narcotics trafficking and conspiracy, firearms offenses, crimes of violence, bank robbery, child pornography and solicitation, election crimes, identity theft, wire fraud and organized dog fighting.

In February 2023, he was promoted to deputy criminal chief in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, where he leads a team of federal prosecutors and coordinates law enforcement investigations in 70 counties in Georgia.

Margaret serves as marketing and PR specialist for an interior design firm. Macon turned out to be a great fit for the Keyes.

“It’s a great town to raise kids in and we can easily get to family nearby,” Mr. Keyes said. With his hectic work schedule, the support system is critical.

“It does take all hands on deck to make this work,” he said. “Margaret is doing a lot on her own but grandparents sure do help.”

Mr. Keyes resumed reserve status in the Army, serving monthly with an Ohiobased unit in the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne). Through this unit, he was given the opportunity to attend Airborne School, or jump school, at Fort Benning in March 2023. He counted on his “home team” once again as he departed for Airborne training.

“Becoming Airborne is a great opportunity for any soldier and allows me to support the most elite units in the Army,” he said.

Receiving the Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School Distinguished Alumnus Award is a recognition of his many accomplishments and contributions to the community. The award goes to an alumnus who embodies the Mission Statement of the School, which states that HIES develops in students a love for earning, respect for self and others, faith in God and a sense of service to the world community.

“If you told me back in 2005 that this is where I would end up — in Macon, working for the government and serving in the Army — I would have asked what went wrong?” Mr. Keyes laughed.

The life he lives and has lived is not what 18-year-old baseball player Will envisioned. His days are busy but overflow with purpose and passion.

“I’ve never been happier or more satisfied,” he said. “This is where I was meant to be.”

FUN FACT >

Will, a former pitcher for the Golden Bears, described his baseball career as below average, or in his words, “B minus at best, with a decent curveball.” However, he does proudly wear a feather in his HIES ball cap from throwing not one, but two, no-hitters. “They may have been against the worst teams in our region, but I did throw two ‘no-no’s’ alongside some Holy Innocents’ legends," he said.

^ Cara Puckett Roxland ‘01 presented the Distinguished Alumnus Award to Will Keyes at the State of the School event on April 13, 2023, which he attended with his wife Margaret, his parents Dr. Bill Keyes and Dana Keyes, and Margaret’s parents Vic Sullivan and Jane Ann Sullivan.

During his time in the military, Will Keyes '05 has been awarded Joint Service and Army Commendation Medals; Joint Service and Army Achievement Medals; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals; Overseas Service Ribbon; and a National Defense Service Medal.

ALUMNI N TES

Raine Crumpler Hyde ’96 has enrolled her children at HIES for the 20232024 school year. Evelyn Grace will be in ninth grade, and Tillan will be in sixth grade. “It's a full circle moment as an alumni to have two of my kids attending my alma mater. We are excited they are going to be Golden Bears!” she said.

Congratulations to Dylan Deal ’97 for being named St. Mark’s Cathedral School’s incoming head of school in Shreveport, La., beginning on July 1, 2023. St. Mark’s Cathedral School will be celebrating their 70th school year.

Taylor Deal-LeMay ’00 and her husband Gabriel welcomed Aidan Torrence LeMay, born February 9, 2023. He joins big sister Amelia.

Travis Canby ‘00 graduated as one of the most decorated basketball players in HIES history and took his talents to Fork Union Military Prep School, becoming a top 50 center in the nation. He signed a four-year scholarship to compete in the Big 12 conference with Kansas State University. After college, Travis traveled throughout Europe, playing professionally in Germany before returning to Atlanta to start a medical device career in orthopedic reconstruction. Nationally ranked in the top 10 percent of medical reps, his skills

were requested to penetrate the Los Angeles market. During his West Coast journey, he met his future wife, Judith Lovingfoss, who was gracing the covers of magazines as a model. They quickly fell in love, shifted gears in 2015 and built a highly successful real estate company, Canby & Co, where they have worked with some of your favorite actors and musicians, representing homes between $200K and $14M. In August 2022, they welcomed their first child, Crosby Winder Canby. Between family and real estate, you can find Travis on the hit HBO show “Winning Time” or laugh through his podcast, Canby Unfiltered.

Courtney Dutson ’00 lives in Cocoa Beach, Fla., where she works as a professional DJ and event producer with her production company C-SIDE. As DJ C-Lioness, she specializes in reggae, performing at large scale festivals like the Dirty Heads Orlando Vacation and as an opening act for nationally touring artists such as Less Than Jake (one of her high school favorites). This year, she will perform at the Roxy Beach N' Boards Festival in Cocoa Beach; open for Grammy award winning artists Inner Circle; DJ at Kaleo Wassman of the band Pepper's UNITY Festival in Ojai, California; and perform at Daytona's Reggae At The Rock festival with Los Angeles reggae artist Bobby Hustle. As an event producer, Courtney has built a strong following around her conscious, community-centered events that combine yoga, ecstatic dance and music. She also collaborates and performs with DJ Shewxlf in a female DJ duo known as PROWL. She has experience as an FM radio DJ with WRRJ and now has a weekly Reggae Radio livestream on Twitch.tv. She enjoys the challenges of running a business and

managing her career as an artist as part of her mission to uplift others through positive vibrations.

Matt Haas ’00 has lived in Philadelphia since 2007, working for several large pharmaceutical companies. He is a biochemist by training and has worked mostly at the lab bench doing analytical characterization of large molecules (biologics and vaccines). At this point he manages a team of 15-20 chemists supporting process development activities at Merck. Some well-known products that he has worked on are Keytruda for cancer and Gardasil for prevention of HPV and associated cancers. Matt married his wife Han-Wen Yang in 2019 and celebrated the first birthday of his daughter, Adeline. They enjoy traveling, hiking, camping, climbing and spending time outside together.

After working in education across the USA, Nichole Krissman ’00 has moved to help start up a school in Dubai. She is currently finishing her second year teaching in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Nichole spent the previous four years living and teaching at an international school in Istanbul, Turkey. She isn’t sure where she may end up next but it is sure to be an adventure!

Ellen Williams Webster ’01 and John Bradley Webster ’00 welcomed a daughter, Lilly Christine Webster, born on February 15, 2023. She weighed 8 pounds and was 21" long. She joins her proud big brother Oliver, age 5.

Alumni profile >>>

As an Alpha-Omega student at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, Michael Griffin

’00 dabbled in a variety of activities. He played the trumpet in the HIES Orchestra, served as a peer counselor, performed in four school plays and hosted new students during the first month of the fall semester. In eighth grade he was Student Council president.

Basketball quickly emerged as the activity where Mr. Griffin could shine. He was a top scorer and led the HIES team to Final Four appearances in both his junior and senior years. He was named to the All-Fulton Team those same years.

“Basketball really became my focus in Upper School,” he said. “Schedules were hard.”

And colleges came calling. Morehouse College recruited him heavily but Mr. Griffin chose University of Missouri, alma mater of his father, Michael Sr., who also played basketball there. He loved the university and the team made it to the Elite 8 in the NCAA tournament his sophomore year; however, the team was filled with NBA-caliber talent his first two years and he was not selected for much playing time. He transferred to Morehouse on a full basketball scholarship and completed his bachelor’s degree in business in 2005.

“I love both colleges but for different reasons,” he said. “Going away to college makes you grow up. You have to become more resourceful.”

Coming back to Atlanta proved to be a good fit, academically and athletically. And while Mr. Griffin enjoyed his time as a collegiate athlete, when the time came for him to hang up his high-tops, he was ready for a “normal” college experience. “I never had a spring break until 2005!” he laughed.

He left Morehouse with more than a diploma. He met his wife, Erica, a Spelman College student, as an undergrad. They married in 2010 and are the proud parents of Chase, 7, and Preston, 4. Upon graduation, he started his professional career with Russell Athletic Corporation in the internal audit department. He later took a position as an executive recruiter with the Marquin Group and became the top recruiter at the firm.

In 2008, Mr. Griffin moved to Accolades, Inc., the marketing and promotional products firm started by his mother, Daryll Griffin, and was named director of marketing.

Michael Griffin '00

The past two years have brought record success.

In 2013, he returned to the classroom and earned a Master’s degree in marketing from the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. He has served on the boards of the Georgia Association of Promotional Product Professionals and the Atlanta Business League. He was named to the HIES Athletic Wall of Fame in 2012 and is serving his sixth year on the HIES Alumni Board.

“I love to help whenever and wherever I can,” he said. “I love to see my alma mater thriving. HIES is so impressive.”

His time as a Golden Bear student is full of happy memories: going to the Final Four with the varsity basketball team, going out to lunch with friends, senior year antics and many more.

“Being a peer counselor was a great experience. It was almost like being on another team,” Mr. Griffin said. “The program really took off under [then-chaplain] Fr. Mike Wallens. He was the best.”

Chris Durst, then-principal of the Middle School, became a confidant to Mr. Griffin and his friends. “He took the time to get to know us,” Mr. Griffin said. “He took teaching outside of the classroom and cared about us as people.”

In fact, when Mr. Griffin received his Wall of Fame induction, it was Mr. Durst who presented his plaque at the ceremony.

“I had so many great teachers,” he said. “HI prepared me so well and I was blessed that my freshman year classes in college were pretty easy because of that.”

But between basketball and a full schedule of classes, there was no room to slack off. He advised graduating seniors to continue on a path of excellence.

“Don’t go to college and be average,” he said. “Give your best effort academically, stay authentic to who you are and chase your dreams.”

— Christina Mimms

In April 2023, the HIES Office of College Counseling welcomed two alumni for a Visual Arts Panel discussion with our upper school students. Jessica Keller Martin ’97 is a Vanderbilt University graduate and owner of Home Studio Interiors. Emily Weprich ’03 is an Auburn University graduate and works as a human resource executive at ServiceTitan Software Company and as a professional model. Jessica and Emily were also joined by Laura Gregg, the SCAD director of recruitment. The group discussed topics such as opportunities for careers in visual arts and navigating your career path.

Laura Waide Bingham ’06 and her husband Rhett welcomed their second child, Jack Richard Bingham, born on July 21, 2022, making Ellie a very proud big sister. They are enjoying every second as a family of four!

Geoff Malcolm ’06 and Robyn Baitcher Malcolm ’07 welcomed their son Graham Allan Malcolm on December 9, 2022. Graham’s older sisters Owyn (5) and Eleanor (2) are loving their new baby brother. Geoff and Robyn were both Alpha Omegas at HIES and returned to Atlanta in March 2020 after living in New York for 10 years. Geoff, grandson of prior HIES headmaster Alice L. Malcolm, now serves on the HIES Alumni Advisory Board. Geoff is particularly excited for the future impact and potential of HIES’ new PEAK program. Geoff performs business valuations for estate and gift purposes with AltaView Advisors and leads his firm’s presence in Atlanta. Robyn is a managing editor at Huffpost where she has worked for 10+ years.

Daniel Blaustein ’08, Mary Mac Hailey ’15 and Kendall Jabaley ’17 welcomed PEAK Seminar students to their employer, CIBC Private Wealth Management Offices, to understand the jobs and roles around financial advisement.

Shannon Donahue '18 Alumni profile >>>

When Shannon Donahue ’ 18 was starting her college search during her Upper School years at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, her thoughts turned to the possibility to serve in the military. The idea sat in the back of her mind for quite a few years after losing a family member when she was in third grade. A cousin who was in the Army was killed in action that year.

“That really opened my eyes to selfless service,” she said. “I wanted to do something bigger with my life.” While her family supported her idea, they were adamant that she complete a college education and become an officer vs. enlisting. She enrolled at Auburn University on an ROTC scholarship as a computer science major.

She credits her HIES college counselor Caroline Catts and Upper School math & physics teacher John Taylor as supportive and influential during her senior year. “Mr. Taylor really fostered my love of learning and the ability to master a concept,” she said.

LT Donahue quickly felt at home on the Auburn campus as well. After all, Donahue Drive is the location of Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium, named in honor of her great-great grandfather, Michael “Iron Mike” Donahue. He served as Auburn’s head coach from

1904 to 1906 and from 1908 to 1922 with an all-time record of 106–35–5.

“Auburn is such a friendly and tightknit community,” she said. “I loved the campus and being at a big football school. I had a great college experience.”

Before starting her freshman year, LT Donahue switched her major to aerospace engineering, which proved to be a challenging course of action. Many students need extra time to complete all required credits but LT Donahue finished in four, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 2022.

While some of her weekends involved training exercises, the Auburn ROTC office planned around football games. She played intramural soccer and street hockey and joined the club powerlifting team. She served as treasurer of the student space program. In the summer after her junior year, she completed an engineering internship with the Army and saw special forces training in action.

In her senior year, she was named Battalion Commander, a great honor in the ROTC program. She was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant after graduation and was asked to assist with Atlanta-area Army recruiting.

In October 2022, LT Donahue entered a two-year flight school program at Ft. Rucker, Ala., with the ultimate goal of

flying Blackhawk helicopters. She has completed the Basic Officer Leadership Course and a course entitled Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape. In the next phase of flight school, known as Common Core, she will start learning to fly the Army’s training helicopter, the Lakota. After flight school, she will start a 10year commitment of service to the Army. Military life does not suit all but LT Donahue advises students to explore the possibility. Students may enter ROTC for one semester with no commitment to Army service. As a former varsity cross country runner and varsity soccer player at HIES, she was well prepared for the athleticism involved with Army life. And LT Donahue has never looked back.

“I am so incredibly grateful,” she said. “I’ve made my best friends in ROTC. I would not have had the same experiences or the same leadership opportunities without the Army.”

— Christina Mimms

Winterfest Reception 2023

Holy Innocents’ Alumni and Parents of Alumni gathered together on January 27, 2023, to celebrate HIES Winterfest with a reception in the Humanities Building. The Alumni Office recognized HIES Cheer alumni who cheered at the collegiate level: Catherine Carlos ’19 (College of Charleston), Kendall Jabaley ’17 (GT), Natalie Spingler ’19 (GT), Atia Williams ’15 (Spelman), Natalie Scott Mehra ’12 (SMU) and Whitney Pfohl Stovall ’12 (UGA). Winterfest guests were invited to the honorary half-time where our cheer alumni were recognized in the gymnasium followed by cheering on our HIES basketball teams to victory!

Lauren Seiple Crites ’09 (Alpha Omega) and her husband Mark Crites welcomed their second child, Margaret Crites, on February 17, 2023, in Atlanta. Mom and baby are healthy and big sister May (born July 2021) is enjoying her new role.

Christine Dial Buckler ’10 and her husband Thomas welcomed their little boy, William Croft Buckler, on September 29, 2022. They reside in Sandy Springs with their golden retriever, Hanks.

Robert Margeson ’10 and his wife Elizabeth welcomed William Lee Margeson on October 28, 2022. They live in Atlanta and are loving life with Will!

Kate Dramis ’10 has a new book, “The Curse of the Saints,” slated to hit U.S. bookshelves in July 2023. Make sure you snag a copy this summer.

Lauren Klopfenstein ’10 and Trent Miller met at UGA and began dating in 2018. The couple moved to Charleston in the summer of 2021. The two were married in Mount Pleasant, S.C. on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina (pavilion for the ceremony and the Bridge Bar & Yacht Club for the reception).

Peyton Warley ’11 and Emma Higgins ’14 married on October 15, 2022, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta. Peyton and Emma reconnected after graduating from college and got engaged in April 2021. They currently live in Ardmore Park in Atlanta with their labrador retriever, Herbie. Emma is an OB/ GYN sonographer for Atlanta Women’s Healthcare Specialists at Piedmont Hospital, and Peyton works in biotechnology as the director of business development for Vivex Biologics.

2023 Easter Eggstravaganza

Hippity-Hoppity, over 60 HIES Alumni and their families hopped on over to the STEM Building on Saturday, April 1, 2023, for our annual Alumni Easter Eggstravaganza. HIES alumni and faculty families played Easter games, participated in our egg hunt, bounced in the Easter Inflatable and enjoyed face painting! We all had an EGG-cellent time celebrating the beginning of spring and Easter weekend with our alumni community. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

 Follow us on Instagram to see more Alumni Events!

Callan Phillips ’11 married Walker Davis at the Fox Theatre on Saturday, March 11, 2023. The bridal party was made up of all HIES alumni. From left to right: Delaney McMullen McKinney ’11, Kathryn Weitzner ’11, Lily Rolader Baucom ’11, Callan Phillips Davis ’11, Sarah Meyer Fallon ’11 and Nicole Shealy ’10

Arden Birdwell ’12 married Thomas Pennington on March 4, 2023, in Hilton Head, S.C. Navie Birdwell ’14 was maid of honor, and bridesmaids included Kate Hollett ’12, Allison Quirk Espenlaub ’12, Morgan Brock ’12, and Bailey Wilkie Thomas ’12 Reed Birdwell ’16 was also a groomsman. Arden is a senior product manager at AdvisorEngine and Thomas is in-house counsel for Zurich North America. The couple resides in Brooklyn, N.Y., with their sheep-a-doodle, Beanie.

Mary Wade Ballou Blake ’13 and her husband Daniel welcomed their son James Daniel “JD” Blake on March 15, 2023. JD was born at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital and weighed 7lbs. 9 oz and is 20.5 inches long. JD is excited to be one of the newest Golden Bears!

George Dobbs ’13 graduated from Tulane University with his undergraduate degree in 2017 and went on to Georgia State Law School and graduated in 2020. He is now a public defender for the City of Atlanta.

Congratulations to Kate Lowe ’13 on her short film, PANIC, on winning best character performance at Atlantamation in April 2023. It was an incredible honor from SCAD and the professors who voted for her film.

Annie Hudgins ’15 graduated Summa Cum Laude from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Arts in history in December 2018 and graduated with honors from The George Washington University Law School in May 2022. She passed the D.C. bar exam last summer and is working in Washington, D.C., as an attorney. Annie and her beagle puppy, Teddy, live in Washington, D.C.

Martin Williams ’16 and Maggie Siegel ’16 were engaged in October 2022. They met at Holy Innocents’ and have been together since their junior year in 2014. They are excited to be getting married this October.

Kathleen Ford ’16 and Trevor Mitchell were married on October 24, 2020, in Blountville, Tenn. Fellow HI alumni Helaina Theos, Rod Davis, Sarah Kate Schoen and Kerlin Anderson attended their wedding. Kathleen is a family care coordinator for Tennessee Donor Services working on saving lives through the gift of organ donation. Trevor is a cardiac ICU nurse, caring for patients post heart surgery and cardiac arrest. They reside in Johnson City, Tenn., with their dog, Gus.

Olivia Monjeau ’16 and HIES current parent Kim Evans hosted PEAK Institute Students at Align Wealth Advisors in March 2023 for a lunch and learn on finance and wealth management. Align helped students understand this profession with a particular emphasis on supporting and educating women both as investors and as financial planning professionals.

Lucia Geddes ’16 moved to Capitol Hill after graduating from Tulane University. As a legislative aide in the United States Senate, she enjoys playing an active role in our nation's government. Lucia is thankful for all that HIES taught her and she always looks forward to connecting with other Golden Bears in D.C.

Susanne Sokolowski ’16 got engaged to Nick Sbravati at Waterfall Club at Lake Burton on April 1, 2023.

Russell Hudgins ’17 graduated with highest honors from the Ernest Scheller, Jr. College of Business at Georgia Tech with a Bachelor of Business Administration in December 2020. Russell is an investment banking analyst at Truist Securities. Russell and his German shorthaired pointer, Hooch, currently live in Alpharetta.

Lexie Knox ’17 signed her second contract as a professional footballer early this spring. Lexie will be playing in 2023 with Klepp Elite in Norway. Klepp is traditionally the top club for developing talent in the country. Congratulations, Lexie!

Kendall Jabaley (Alpha Omega Class of 2017) and Jack Mitnitsky (Golden Bear when he was in fifth grade) got engaged Easter weekend where Jack surprised her and popped the question at her favorite place, Amelia Island. Kendall was in Mrs. Kaplan’s fifth grade class while Jack was in Mrs. Leech’s class so the two didn’t officially meet until freshman year at Georgia Tech and began dating sophomore year.

Frank Hudgins ’18 earned a Bachelor of Science in business analytics from the Harbert College of Business at Auburn University in May 2022. Frank currently lives in Sandy Springs and is a merchant planner at Home Depot.

After graduating from the University of Virginia with distinction in May 2022, Blake Morain ’18 enrolled at Vanderbilt Law School, where he serves as the vice president of the Vanderbilt Bar Association: the law school student government. Blake is drawing on his experiences as student body president at HIES to lead in this role. He plans to begin working as a summer associate at two Nashville law firms this summer, Butler Snow and Neal & Harwell, where he hopes to learn more about his anticipated field of litigation.

Darya Khani ’17 started medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine at the South Georgia Campus. She received her white coat in October 2022.

In December 2021, Clara Hunter ’18 graduated from American University's School of Public Affairs with a major in justice and law, and a minor in art history. During her time at American, she was an active board member and brother in the national service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. Since graduating, she has been working in the legal field as an intellectual property assistant, learning about the intricate patent application process and working specifically on design patents. At this time, she is navigating her interest in careers other than law. Clara has loved her time in D.C., and has even had many HIES friends come to visit.

Bennett Baugus ’19, Wyatt Griffith ’19 and Blake Dobbs ’20 are all part of an Auburn-originated band called The Stews. With Bennett on the bass guitar, Blake on guitar, Wyatt on drums and their other member leading the vocals and guitar, this band is currently touring the nation. Check out their remaining tour dates to see if they will be near you through end of summer 2023.

Taylor Rand ’20 is currently a junior at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., majoring in creative & entertainment industries with a minor in music business. Taylor recently traveled to Los Angeles to work and attend three industry events as a red carpet talent escort for Musicares Person of the Year - Honoring Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala, and the 65th Annual Grammy Awards! Right now, she is working at the Academy of Country Music as an events management intern. With the company, she has been assisting in planning the ACM Awards/ ACM Awards Week Events that took place in May 2023 and traveled with the team to Frisco, Texas, to work and assist handson for awards week. She has just joined the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, which is for juniors, seniors and graduate students who are in the top 10 percent of their class into its ranks.

Aidan Diaz ’21 is currently a sophomore at Florida State University working on his marketing degree. This summer he plans to work with Live Nation at venues such as The Roxy, Tabernacle, Cadence Bank Amphitheater and more. He also plans to work at the Mooncrush Music Festival in Miramar, Fla.

College roadshow

On February 16, 2023, the HIES Alumni Office and faculty representatives hit the road to Athens to meet up with alumni attending the University of Georgia over lunch. Alumni enjoyed catching up with former teachers and fellow Golden Bears.

1: Jessica McNair '20, Setareh Khani '20, MaryCamille Quigley '20, Sarah Scothorn '20, Ashley Whitehead '19, Mary Claire Smith '19, faculty Amie LaPorteLewis and Rachel Shunnarah

2: Laney Bertholf '22, Hannah Herman '21, Molly Stembridge '22, Walker Wolf '22, Kenidi Cook '21

3: Graham Collins '19, Daniel Forrester (Faculty), Ford Morgan '19

4: Laney Bertholf '22, Walker Wolf '22 , Molly Stembridge '22

Alumni

Sam Lukens '12

Business decisions typically are made with a great deal of research, analysis and debate backing them. Financial investments need numbers to align. The right players must be seated in the proper roles. But there is also the leap of faith that often takes an idea from paper to reality.

For Sam Lukens ’12, who has years of business experience working for companies such as Samsara, Silver Peak and Alkira, leaving a traditional role to become co-founder of a startup company required faith, trust and a gut decision.

“The single scariest moment was the day after I left my job,” Mr. Lukens said.

He did so to launch Hatched, an online dating app, which went live in January 2022. For now, the app serves Atlanta but there are plans to expand to other markets. His co-founder is Mitch Alterman, a longtime colleague and husband of fellow HIES alum Paige Philipson Alterman ’10.

“It’s hard to be successful in the crowded space of dating apps, but Hatched takes a different approach with a focus on personality and core values,” Mr. Lukens said. “The goal is to help people find meaningful relationships.”

In the development stage, Hatched partnered with a therapist to develop a bank of 1,000 questions, a selection of which are answered by people creating their online profiles. Profiles are matched with potential partners and then revealed or “hatched.”

Working with close friends and colleagues, along with appreciating the importance of relationship-building, has aided the business’s success. Mr. Lukens often recalls lessons learned as a Golden Bear.

“HIES does a great job of making you feel very connected to your peers, whether you're on the same teams or not,” he said. “I felt like part of a family and we all grew up together. I made some of the best memories playing baseball at HIES.”

Mr. Lukens is close with about 15 friends from HIES whom he sees regularly. Some were classmates at the University of Georgia as well. He graduated from the Terry College of Business in 2016. He shares some mutual friends with his wife Virginia, who is a Lovett School graduate. He credits her with being an amazing support system during Hatched’s development. The early days were far less stable than where the company stands in 2023.

“We don't always know what each day is going to bring,” Mr. Lukens said. “I have learned more about finance, marketing and working with investors than ever before. There is a lot of luck and timing, and it’s exciting.”

— Christina Mimms

Welcome back to campus, golden bears

Performing Arts

Lunch-n-Learn with HIES Alumni

On March 23, 2023, the HIES Office of College Counseling welcomed two alumni for a lunch-n-learn panel with Upper School students. Jeff Campanella ’03 is an Auburn University graduate and working actor, most recently appearing in episodes of “Magnum P.I.” Payton Anderson ’13 is a Florida State University graduate and voiceover actor. They spoke to students about college applications and preparing auditions, the differences between a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree vs. a Bachelor of Arts degree and the potential opportunities for careers in performing arts.

If you would like to submit class notes for the next issue of Torchbearer, please contact Kelli Moore at kelli.moore@hies.org.

Daniel Blaustein

The PEAK Institute at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School welcomed Daniel Blaustein ’08, lead planner for CIBC Private Wealth Management in Atlanta, to speak with students in the PEAK Seminar on Tuesday, Feb. 14. The students were exploring the subject of finance.

Mr. Blaustein works closely with relationship managers, wealth strategists and business development officers to support clients in areas such as fund management, estate planning and retirement services. He spoke with students about inflation, diversification, risk-taking and how to talk with people about money, which can be awkward at times. He advised them to start investing at a young age and think of it as a long game.

“The sooner the clock starts, the better,” he said. “Time in the market is more important than timing the market.”

Mr. Blaustein attended HIES from ninth through twelfth grades and played varsity baseball. He attended Georgia State University on a baseball scholarship and earned a BBA in finance. He was twice named to the Academic All-District III Baseball Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. He has worked for CIBC for 10 years.

— Christina Mimms

find your Class Representative >

’95 Allison Dunham Parrish: allisondparrish@yahoo.com

Audra Mullen Thompson: audra.thompson@hies.org

’96 Raine Crumpler Hyde: raine.hyde@gmail.com

Monique Caracola-Biddle: monique@vacationstoanywhere.com

’97 Matt Little: mlittle@mcgriff.com

’98 Aida Mahmutovic Mayhew: aida.mayhew@stemcell.com

Elizabeth Dunham Thompson: elizabethdunhamthompson@yahoo.com

’99 Rich Braund: braundr@gmail.com

’00 Caroline Clear Rudolph: cdclear@gmail.com

Shelarese Ruffin: ssruffin@gmail.com

’01 Allender Laflamme Durden: allenderl@gmail.com

Cara Puckett Roxland: cara.roxland17@gmail.com

Kristen Novay: KristenWNovay@gmail.com

’02 Missy Evans Gardner: missylauren@gmail.com

Jennie Strassner Wilson: jennielwilson@gmail.com

’03 Emily Weprich: emily.weprich@yahoo.com

Liz Young Hayes: lizhayesuk@gmail.com

Bryan Jones: bryani611@gmail.com

’04 Amy Fore Kane: kaneamyf@gmail.com

Susan Karimiha: susan.karimiha@gmail.com

’05 Tyler Rathburn: tprathburn@gmail.com

Rachel Shunnarah: rshunnarah@gmail.com

Allyson Young Barganier: allysonbarganier@gmail.com

’06 Whitney Mitchell: whitney5574@gmail.com

Liz Walters: lizwaltersatl@gmail.com

Geoff Malcolm: gmalcolm@altaviewadvisors.com

’07 Ellen Heller Curnin: ecurnin@gmail.com

Ben Cornwell: ben.cornwell@gmail.com

Sean Butkus: seanbutkus@gmail.com

’08 Daniel Blaustein: dsblaustein@gmail.com

Rob Aitkens: raitkens14@gmail.com

’09 Jackson Davis: jacksondavis5470@gmail.com

John Mitchell: johnsmitchell@gmail.com

’10 Halle Addison: haddison34@att.net

Annie Hollett Snell: anniehollett@gmail.com

’11 Delaney McMullen McKinney: delaneymcm@gmail.com

Callan Phillips Davis: callan.phillips@yahoo.com

’12 Nicole Farmer: nicolefarmer@beacham.com

Greg Sullivan: gregsullivan12@gmail.com

’13 Victoria Hovancik: victoria.hovancik@gmail.com

Lindsey Klopfenstein: lindsey.klopfenstein@gmail.com

’14 Bailey Lyles: blyles14@gmail.com

Anne-Claire Pittman Lewis: acpittman15@gmail.com

Mary Hollis Schmidt: mhschmidt12@gmail.com

Julia Wright Morton: juliawmorton@yahoo.com

Madison Miller Freeman: madison@millerbrothers.com

’15 Matt Gates: mattgates95@gmail.com

Rebecca Maitski: rebecca.maitski15@gmail.com

Ansley McGhee Walker: ansley.mcghee64@gmail.com

’16 Peyton Hayes: pehayes@icloud.com

Emma Rolader: roladerem@gmail.com

’17 Cade Anderson: cade.anderson1999@gmail.com

Ansley Earle: ansleyearle99@gmail.com

Carson Staples: carsonstaples@gmail.com

Kendall Jabaley: kjabaley@gmail.com

’18 Bryn Foster: ebrynfoster@gmail.com

Blake Morain: blake.morain@gmail.com

’19 Kent Malcolm: kent.malcolm@pop.belmont.edu

Elizabeth Dickson: elizabethdickson09@gmail.com

Katie Leonard: katieleonard032@gmail.com

’20 Lucy Brumbaugh: brumbaughlucy@gmail.com

Kate Moore: kate.moore2020@gmail.com

MaryCamille Quigley: mcquigley20@gmail.com

’21 Sophie Corts: sophiecorts@gmail.com

Eliza Gregory: elizagregory53@gmail.com

‘22 George Wray: georgewray22@gmail.com

Abigail Jablon: sajablon@gmail.com

Caroline Williams: carolinegrace486@gmail.com

CREATING LEGACIES

by Dunn Neugebauer, WRITER

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School graduated its first class of Upper School seniors 28 years ago. In 1995, the school’s leadership witnessed the results of years of planning, growth and faith in action.

David Neumann ’95 was among the 38 seniors in our inaugural class, and this year he had the honor of being the first HIES graduate to see a child walk across the commencement stage and become a fellow alum, as he handed a diploma to his daughter Reese, one of the 135 seniors in the Class of 2023. His feelings were numerous.

“First off, it makes me feel old – I’m too young to have a senior in high school,” Mr. Neumann said. “Seriously, though, being part of the first graduating class was very special – everything we did as a group was the school’s first time. Back in the ’90s, Alice Malcolm and Edward England played a huge part of the foundation for our success right now, and Paul Barton has grabbed that torchand taken us to the next level in competing with other private schools in Atlanta. We’ve grown and there’s no doubt we’ve made some great decisions as a school.”

Chrissy

David and Chrissy Neumann have four boys at HIES: Nick ’25, Matt ’26, Danny ’27 and Tommy ’30, along with the soon-to-be graduate.

Mrs. Neumann works as a real estate agent along with her husband. She didn’t attend HIES but she feels the community is and has been a wonderful place for her and her family. Different high schools notwithstanding, the couple were one and the same mind when discussing the future May event.

“There’s something special about watching your child dribble a basketball down the same court her dad did 28 years earlier,” Mrs. Neumann said.

“It’s also special having teachers personally responsible for getting you through high school, now teaching your children,” Mr. Neumann added. “Or even having people you graduated with now teaching your kids. Watching your kid experience all this makes it come full circle.”

Reese agreed. “Graduating is obviously a special moment in my life. Also, it’s been really cool remembering all the stories my dad has told me about high school and then getting to experience the same things. And I love having teachers that used to teach him telling me how many detentions they used to give him! But, on a serious note, it adds a great layer to the father/daughter thing as well.”

Looking back, Mr. Neumann’s class – besides the distinction of being the first to graduate – also brought home the first team state championship in 1994 in soccer. He was a member of the basketball team. His sister, Jill ’96, starred here before playing hoops at Presbyterian College.

Reese took the athletic gene in spades, as her freshman year she was a part of the first girls’ cross country state championship team ever, then followed that the upcoming winter by being a part of a girls’ basketball title team. She graduated with a 4.2 GPA, has lettered 13 times, was named Honorable Mention AllRegion for basketball to go with All-State in cross country as a freshman, and was once honored for what was voted the 2nd Best Moment in the 2019 Cross Country season when she stayed at the finish line chute and helped other runners.

“You don’t meet too many people in the halls that say bad things about Reese; I only wish my reputation upon leaving here was as glamorous,” Mr. Neumann said with a smile.

Moving on, the Neumann family are more than advocates and ambassadors for HIES. Mr. Neumann has become sort of a recruiter.

THERE’S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT WATCHING YOUR CHILD DRIBBLE A BASKETBALL DOWN THE SAME COURT DAD DID 28 YEARS EARLIER.

—

Neumann

“I have parents all the time who are about to put their kids in kindergarten and they often come to me,” he said. “Needless to say, I have no problem telling them about this place.”

It’s a place where they spend a lot of time, going through the more-than-busy life of working and keeping up with five kids. “One day we were at school 16 times,” Mrs. Neumann remembered with a laugh.

Sports and games and activities take them all over; schedules are kept on a color-coded calendar, and the Neumann’s house at times is proof of the closeness of the community.

It’s not a mad house, but a happy house, and a typical scene on campus is this: Mrs. Neumann pulling in, rolling down her window, and handing out lacrosse sticks, shoes, computers, and the like. “One day one of them forgot their pants. How does that happen?”

It’s a computer loop, if you will, seeing a Neumann car drive the circle, handing off things, moving on. It’s what they do. What holds it all together? Love, of course, but it’s a love they feel that IS Holy Innocents’ and this community.

“This place is amazing,” Mrs. Neumann said. “Everything we teach the kids at home is reinforced here at school, then brought back home again. Reese’s class reads to the Lower School kids – where Tommy is. This develops a bond between younger and older that wouldn’t happen otherwise. Before Senior Night in basketball, we had 12 kids at our house making posters for Reese and Olivia Hutcherson.”

In this same vein, the HIES concept of family continues to be reinforced regarding Mr. Neumann, as he to this day talks to 20 of his 38 graduated classmates at least once a week and is on a group chat with 14 of them.

He is among many graduates since 1995 who have selected HIES for

their children’s education. Future Golden Bear alumni are enrolled in every division of the school, from Primary School through Upper School. Those parents are waiting for the opportunity to stand on stage at commencement and deliver a diploma to their children but first they will hand off the baton and experience the joy of being a Golden Bear parent, not unlike Mrs. Neumann.

“Very quickly, Holy Innocents’ became our kids’ school,” she said. “It’s their time to make memories, friends, win state titles, to soar academically. It’s just amazing that Reese and her dad are both alums of the same school. They shared a teacher in Ellen Blake, and one of his classmates – Audra Thompson ’95 – later taught Reese. And when stories are shared of the high school years, there will be shared experiences at the center of it all.”

And hopefully the HIES legacy will continue to the next generation, for the Neumanns and others.

“I hope one day I’ll be fortunate enough to watch a grandchild walk across that stage,” Mr. Neumann said.

< The Neumann Family: Matt ’26, Danny ’27, Chrissy, Tommy ’30, Reese ’23, David ’95 and Nick ’25.

FALL 2023

ALUMNI EVENTS

Wall of Fame Induction

Friday, September 15

Riverwood High School

Golden Bears Giving Day

Thursday, September 28

Homecoming

Football Game – Golden Bears vs. Westminster

Friday, September 29

Baker Field

Class Reunions

Saturday, September 30

• Class of 1998, 25 Year

• Class of 2003, 20 Year

• Class of 2013, 10 Year

• Class of 2018, 5 Year

Please consult your class representatives for more information, some venues are TBD

Pumpkin Bash

Saturday, October 21

Owen Family Quadrangle

*Dates and events are subject to change. Please consult the HIES online calendar.

We loved seeing our HIES alumni at this year's Golden Bear Gala!

Kristi Marshall, Ian Marshall ’95, Audra Thompson ’95, Harry Thompson

Nicole Farmer O’Shaughnessey ’12, Becker O’Shaughnessey

Katie McGoogan Patrick ’98, Brock Patrick

Erica Seaborn, Scott Seaborn ’03

Allender Laflamme Durden ’01, Eric Durden

John Mitchell ’09, Abby Leonard, Kristin Cox, Ryan Cox ‘09

Parents Only— If this issue is addressed to your child who no longer maintains his or her permanent address at your home, please notify the HIES Development Office at (404) 303-2150, ext. 107 of the new mailing address. Because college addresses change so frequently, we are unable to use them for general mailing.

Grandparents, Parents, Alumni— Please make sure we have your current email address so we can share up-to-date news and information with you, including digital editions of Torchbearer hies.org/media